January 03, 2020

Magic Shutdown Heat in Fourth Quarter To Secure a 20-Point Victory

January 03, 2020/ Asia McMillan

With 25 points from Terrence Ross and a 20 point, 11 rebound double-double from Nikola Vucevic, the Orlando Magic took on the Miami Heat Friday night, giving the Heat a 20 point loss in the City Beautiful.

Playing in their second game of a back-to-back, after holding the Toronto Raptors to 6 of 42 from 3-point range, the Miami Heat shot only 37.5 percent overall against the Magic. Jimmy Butler, playing a great game, secured 23 points and ten rebounds for the Heat, but Miami would only score six points in the fourth quarter on shooting three of 19 from the field.

After being listed as questionable for Friday's game, Aaron Gordon would return to the floor. Gordon's return proved invaluable for the Magic with Jonathan Isaac sitting out due to a severe knee sprain and bone bruise. Gordon would take home 16 points, eight rebounds, and three assists, along with an incredible dunk in the second quarter to ignite the fans and the Magic bench.

After the game, Magic head coach Steve Clifford had some words on Aaron Gordon's return Friday night. "Aaron gave us physicality. He has the ability to defend primary scorers and make it hard on them, which is hard to do," states Coach Clifford.

With 4:29 left in the game, the Magic would lead the Heat by 18 points off of a 3-pointer by Aaron Gordon and a hook shot by Vucevic. Miami was not much help to themselves going scoreless for over three minutes in the fourth quarter and turning the ball over three times.

The Orlando Magic would lead the Heat in key stats throughout the game, including field goal percentage with 40.7% and free throw percentage making 26 of 29 from the charity stripe. However, it was the Magic's defense that proved stable in tonight's victory. With 37 defensive rebounds, 11 steals, and four blocks, the Magic came to play defensively against their in-state rivals.

When talking about the Magic's defense, Steve Clifford stated, "I thought our defense, for the most part, was really good. That multiple effort, cover, know who you're closing to, particularly in the fourth quarter, was really good."

Miami has been one of the top 3-point shooting teams this season. However, the Heat were not as accurate as they have been from the 3-point line, as the Magic succeeding in closing out the Heat's shooters on nearly every play. Miami went 7-out-of-37 from three-point range, with the Heat bench only contributing one of 10 from three in the first half.

Friday's game is the first of four meetings this season between the Magic and Heat. The in-state and Southeast Divison rivals will play three more games – January 27 and March 4 in Miami and February 1 in Orlando. In the 31-year history of the rivalry, the Orlando Magic are now 31-30 breaking the tie in the 61 games played in Orlando.

What's Next

Miami Heat: Host Portland on Sunday, January 5

Orlando Magic: Host Utah and Saturday, January 4

Key Notes:

Magic's Nikola Vucevic recorded his 300th career double-double in Friday's game against the Heat.
The six points scored by the Heat in the 4th quarter are the fewest points scored in a quarter since Toronto held Portland to six points during the 2nd quarter on October 30, 2017.
The six points scored tied a Magic franchise record for fewest points allowed in any quarter.
Markelle Fultz recorded a career-high six steals in Friday's game versus the Heat
Miami put up a quarter season-high of 35 points in the 3rd quarter of Friday's game against Orlando

December 10, 2019

Darrell Armstrong to be Inducted Into Magic Hall of Fame

December 10, 2019/ Asia McMillan

DECEMBER 10, 2019 | ORLANDO, FL

The Orlando Magic will induct former guard and fan-favorite Darrell Armstrong into their Hall of Fame on Friday, February 21 at 4 p.m. in Amway Center, near the Nutrilite Magic Fan Experience**. Armstrong becomes the ninth inductee into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame.

In addition to the induction ceremony, Armstrong will be honored that night during Orlando’s game vs. Dallas. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. and tickets are available through OrlandoMagic.com or by calling 1-800-4-NBATIX.

“During his nine seasons with the Orlando Magic, Darrell Armstrong gave everything he had to the organization, both on the court and in our community,” said Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins. “Fans always look back fondly at our ‘Heart & Hustle’ era, and Darrell was the leader of that group that left it all on the court 20 years ago. We are thrilled to induct him into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame.”

A true underdog story, Armstrong went undrafted in 1991 out of Fayetteville State University. He played professionally in several minor leagues, as well as overseas in Cyprus and Spain, before signing as a free agent with Orlando on April 8, 1995. Armstrong went on to spend 14 seasons playing in the NBA, including nine seasons with the Magic from 1995-2003.

“It is an honor to be recognized for the things I did in Orlando, and I am especially proud as a player who wasn’t drafted,” said Armstrong. “I am not only excited that the organization is rewarding me, but I am also thankful to the fans there as well. Magic fans always had my back and supported me. It is a great honor and I share this with them.”

Armstrong played in 502 regular season games with Orlando (291 starts), averaging 11.7 ppg., 5.1 apg., 3.3 rpg. and 1.65 stlpg. in 28.4 minpg., while shooting .888 (1,156-1,302) from the free throw line. During the 1998-99 campaign, he earned both the NBA’s Most Improved Player award, as well as the NBA’s Sixth Man Award. Armstrong became the first player in NBA history to win both honors during the same season.

Entering this season, Armstrong stood among the Orlando Magic all-time leaders in steals (second, 830), assists (third, 2,555), games played (fifth, 502), three-point field goals attempted (fifth, 1,892), minutes played (sixth, 14,234), three-point field goals made (sixth, 654), free throws made (eighth, 1,156), free throws attempted (ninth, 1,302), field goals made (tenth, 2,044), field goals attempted (tenth, 4,878) and points scored (tenth, 5,898).

Armstrong is also a two-time recipient (1998, 2000) of the Rich and Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award, which recognizes a player’s efforts in the Central Florida community.

The Magic unveiled its inaugural Hall of Fame class on April 9, 2014, naming the first two inductees, Magic co-founder Pat Williams and the team’s first-ever draft pick and current community ambassador, Nick Anderson. In 2015, Shaquille O’Neal became the third member inducted, while Senior Chairman Rich DeVos joined the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame in 2016. Anfernee ‘Penny’ Hardaway and “founding father” Jimmy Hewitt were inducted in 2017, Tracy McGrady was honored in 2018 and longtime announcer David Steele was inducted last season.

The Orlando Magic Hall of Fame honors and celebrates the great players, coaches and executives who have had a major impact during the team’s illustrious 31-year history. The HOF bridges the past with the future of Magic basketball, and the exhibit, located in Amway Center on the terrace level near Nutrilite Magic Fan Experience, provides Magic fans an opportunity to learn some Magic history while in the building. The inductees are selected based on their overall on and off the court contributions to the team and organization, years of service, impact in the community and general character of the individual.

Source: Orlando Magic | NBA

October 13, 2019

Gallery: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Orlando Magic

October 13, 2019/ Asia McMillan

Orlando Magic preseason home game versus the Philadelphia 76ers. Photos by Asia McMillan.

October 11, 2019

Gallery: Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic Preseason Game

October 11, 2019/ Asia McMillan

Orlando Magic preseason home game versus the Boston Celtics. Photos by Asia McMillan.

May 23, 2018

Athlete Branding At The Professional Basketball Combine

May 23, 2018/ Asia McMillan

Estimated reading time: 3 minute 19 seconds

Sports combines, team workouts, and various clinics and camps can be a "win or go home" marketing and brand strategy for many young athletes looking to make it to the professional leagues. Stay with me as I explain how and why.

Over the past two days, the Professional Basketball Combine (PBC) has been taking place at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, featuring LiAngelo Ball (and Lavar Ball), Brandon Sampson, Victor Sanders, Egot Koulechov, and many more great athletes. Unlike the NBA Draft Combine, the PBC gives athletes who did not receive an invitation or could not make it to the draft combine or who are not getting much attention from NBA scouts, a chance to showcase their talents for some of the top NBA teams. According to the PBC, "each player who attends has the opportunity to participate in private workouts and scrimmages, do combine testing, and interview for NBA GMs, NBA scouts, G-League personnel and overseas opportunities..."

In speaking with PBC founder Jake Kelfer before the second annual PBC event, Kelfer spoke on the success and goals of the 2017 Professional Basketball Combine. "The 2017 PBC was an incredible success, and I couldn't be more thankful for how it turned out! One of my goals was to create something that would positively impact the NBA pre-draft process, and that's exactly what we did." Kelfer would go on to state that "of the 23 players we had participate, 4 signed two-way contracts, 11 signed G-League contracts, and 8 signed international contracts. One of our players, Antonio Blakeney, even went on to win G-League Rookie of the Year."

With accomplishments that met and raised standards for the 2018 PBC, this year's event was sure to capitalize on the success of 2017 both of the court and off the court.

Regarding brand development and awareness, the PBC, like any other performance event, should be regarded as a critical event in the marketing and branding strategy of all athletes who attend. Yes, athletes should focus on displaying their talents to the best of their abilities. However, every event that an athlete participates in should focus on reinforcing their brand.

In covering the Professional Basketball Combine from afar, I noticed how much care went into the players as they showcased their talents and how engaging the event was on social media (Instagram and Twitter) regarding video content and making sure that each player received the same amount of attention socially. This engagement is especially beneficial because it helps the athletes with their brand strategy (whether they realize it or not). I could tell that the PBC aimed to get equal exposure for all of their participants which is something you do not often find at other sports combines.

In the words of Jeremy Darlow, "brands win championships." As an athlete, your brand is on display 24/7; on the court, at an event, on social media, or walking your dog down the street. Athletes should view every second as an opportunity to document and show who they indeed are (their brand) and what better time than on one of the biggest stages of their career. Branding yourself as an athlete is one thing, but branding yourself as an athlete who understands the importance of marketing, longevity, and consistency within a career is something different, and PBC gives young athletes a chance to demonstrate that ability both on and off the court.

Now, diving into the marketing and branding strategy and tactics of the PBC itself, they did not disappoint on their own accord. Being that the PBC is in its second year, I saw some great sponsors activations throughout the event.

PBC made sure to showcase their sponsors on social media with branded content such as pictures of promotional items from MVMT, the 2018 PBC official gear sponsored by Eastbay, photos featuring IMG Academy's big blue chair, and of the players enjoying HFactor Hydrogen Water.

Going back to making sure each participant had equal amounts of exposure. PBC had athletes take pictures and videos for their Instagram Story and also had the athletes sign the story. Those stories could be something that PBC adds to their archives as a first signature before the athlete makes it in the league. The Professional Basketball Combine also featured HFactor Hydrogen Water in a sponsor activation to give away an exclusive PBC jersey signed by all 24 participants. Again, developing the athletes' brand and awareness while also doing the same for the event and its sponsors.

From a sports marketing and sports business perspective, the Professional Basketball Combine did a great job including all of their athletes and helping to activate their sponsors. In just a few days, their following, awareness, and engagement grew tremendously on a local and national level, going on to show that an event with the proper marketing and branding strategy can sustain the brand of that event and its participants, locally and nationally.

For more information on the PBC and official combine stats, visit the links below.

Pictures via @ProBBallCombine

Professional Basketball Combine

#PBC2018

PBC Founder, Jake Kelfer

January 31, 2018

NBA All-Star Draft Should Be Televised… Here’s Why

January 31, 2018/ Asia McMillan

Reading Time: 2 minutes and 33 seconds

The Inaugural 2018 NBA All-Star Draft took place January 25th, but without the proper recognition, many think it should have gotten.

The only thing missing from the All-Star Draft was the fact that the fans didn’t get to witness this exchange, similar to playground picks at recess, between Steph Curry and LeBron James.

Would a televised All-Star draft have made a difference in how Curry and James filled their rosters? We’ll never know the answer to that question. However, there are a lot of opportunities that the NBA missed out on by not televising the All-Star Draft. Here are some of the most significant missed opportunities from my perspective:

Marketing and Sponsorship Opportunities Galore

When it comes to the sports marketing perspective (see what I did there?), the opportunities were/are endless. The NBA is a growing global brand that has other companies throwing themselves at the chance to partner with a mature and advancing sports league.

By televising the All-Star Draft, the NBA could have capitalized on partnering with other brands and companies that can help them push their objectives of innovation, global growth, and sustainability to the next level. Not to mention, the ROI and the amount of revenue that the NBA could have generated from naming rights, title sponsorships, or presenting sponsorships.

New Wave of Digital Marketing

With their recent partnership with Twitch TV and their collaboration with Next VR, the NBA has a digital media/streaming platform and a virtual reality platform in the palm of their hands.

Since partnering with Twitch TV to live stream NBA G-League games, I’m sure Twitch and the G-League have seen a significant rise in subscribers and their overall brand and media value. The NBA can cater to their innovative nature by involving Twitch and Next VR and other tech brands with the NBA All-Star Draft in ways that are unique to each company.

Leverage for Existing TV Contracts

Televising the All-Star Draft would merely add another revenue stream for the NBA, through the sponsorship and marketing deals mentioned above. However, a televised All-Star Draft would also present the NBA with leverage when negotiating future cable and network television contracts.

If the NBA All-Star Draft proves to be a successful televised event, the NBA opens themselves up to receiving competing bids for the All-Star Draft TV rights.

Activations and Live Events

Similar to the NBA Draft, the NBA All-Star Draft could have the potential to become an in-demand live event - this would lead to the NBA being able to sell tickets to the All-Star Draft.

Having a live event would also open the floor for sponsors/partners to activate their NBA sponsorships. By giving sponsors and partners another event and platform where which to activate, the NBA can fulfill their business objectives and also keep their partners, sponsors and stakeholders happy.

The NBA All-Star Draft is a step in the right direction, and it takes the monotony out of the NBA All-Star game. The possibility of broadcasting the All-Star Draft in the future will better the league, and it would give us fans that other form of rivalry and competition what we’ve been waiting for from the NBA.

2018 NBA All-Star teams

Team LeBron roster

Starters

DeMarcus Cousins, Pelicans (injured)

Anthony Davis, Pelicans

Kevin Durant, Warriors

Kyrie Irving, Celtics

LeBron James, Cavaliers

Reserves

LaMarcus Aldridge, Spurs

Bradley Beal, Wizards

Andre Drummond, Pistons (replacing Wall)

Paul George, Thunder (replacing Cousins)

Kevin Love, Cavaliers (injured)

Victor Oladipo, Pacers

Kristaps Porzingis, Knicks

John Wall, Wizards (injured)

Russell Westbrook, Thunder

Coach

Dwane Casey, Raptor

Team Stephen roster

Starters

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks

Stephen Curry, Warriors

DeMar Derozan, Raptors

Joel Embiid, 76ers

James Harden, Rockets

Reserves

Jimmy Butler, Timberwolves

Draymond Green, Warriors

Al Horford, Celtics

Damian Lillard, Trailblazers

Kyle Lowry, Raptors

Klay Thompson, Warriors

Karl-Anthony Towns, T'wolves

Coach

Mike D'Antoni, Rockets

Sources: SI | SB Nation

January 31, 2018

Cupcakes, Peanut Butter, and Jelly - Bring Back The NBA Nickname Jerseys

January 31, 2018/ Asia McMillan

Reading Time: 2 minutes 31 seconds

During the 2013-2014 NBA season, the Miami Heat and the Brooklyn Nets debuted their highly anticipated ‘nickname jerseys” that featured the easily recognizable nicknames of the players on each team.

From “King James” to “The Truth,” the nickname jerseys were a favorite among the fans, and it brought something different to the court. So why not bring the nickname jerseys back? I’m not sure what the sales statistics were for those nickname jerseys, but I do know that bringing those jerseys back to the court has the potential to create more loyalty and engagement from fans and players - here’s how:

Fan Engagement

Social media is even more prevalent and powerful than it was in 2013 and 2014. If the NBA was to bring back the nickname jerseys, there are many areas and platforms they can use to involve its fans in the process. For starters, the NBA could host a social media contest to see which teams or athletes the fans think have the best nicknames. A social media contest could also involves one of their sponsors and include game tickets or meet and greets as giveaway prizes.

Player Engagement

While making sure to involve the fans, the NBA cannot leave out its players. After all, it is their nickname that’s going on the back of the jerseys.

Involving the players is an important step the NBA should take in making sure that their key stakeholders are happy with the process of bringing back the nickname jerseys. Asking some of the top players what nicknames they prefer over others and if they would be interested in the release of their nickname jersey would set an excellent tone for the NBA and give the players and fans what they want.

New Jerseys, Old and New Nicknames

With this year's jersey partnership with Nike and the inclusion of the jersey sponsor patches, the NBA can give fans a nickname on a newly branded jersey. “King James” on a Nike jersey with a Goodyear logo patch would probably be more appealing given his partnership with Nike and that his hometown is in Cleveland.

Also, with the variously themed jerseys that Nike has released this season, it would pretty cool to see some of the cool nicknames on those equally cool jerseys.

There are some new, old, creative and personality-driven nicknames that I’m sure fans would love to see their favorite players wear and that fans would buy if they were on a jersey. Here are some of those nicknames:

- Chef Curry
- Peanut Butter
- Jelly
- The Unicorn
- Splash Brother 1
- Splash Brother 2
- The Brow
- Boogie
- Cupcake
- The Greek Freak
- Uncle Drew
- Swaggy P
- The Beard

Sidebar: Just think if Nike released a “Black Mamba” or “Mamba” Kobe jersey or a “Big Fundamentals” Tim Duncan jersey… Those would sell like $.99 hotcakes.

In the spirit of wishful thinking, Nike, the NBA, and the jersey patch sponsors could all benefit from bringing back the nickname jerseys. If it’s bound to happen, let’s hope it’s sooner rather than later (while some of the top players are still on their current teams).

Sources: SI | SB Nation

January 15, 2018

The Value Behind NBA Jersey Patches

January 15, 2018/ Asia McMillan

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

The 2017-2018 season brought a new look to the NBA. Being the first of the four major U.S. sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL) to add sponsorship patches to their jerseys, the NBA welcomes the expansion of its legacy by adding a new revenue stream for its teams and players.

Currently, 19 of the 30 NBA teams have signed jersey patch deals. However, the sponsored jersey deals are not long-term for the NBA - they are a part of an initial three-year agreement in which the NBA will evaluate the ROI (return on investment) of the jersey patch agreements.

So what is the value of a jersey sponsor patch for not only the NBA but also for the sponsors?

Let's start with the largest jersey patch deals:

Golden State Warriors and eCommerce company Rakuten, valued at $20M (the largest jersey patch deal so far)
Los Angeles Lakers and eCommerce platform Wish, valued at $12-$14M
Cleveland Cavaliers and Goodyear, valued at $10M
Boston Celtics and General Electrics, valued at $8M

Two weeks into the 2017-2018 NBA season, the Warriors, Lakers, Cavaliers, and Celtics accounted for 87% of the total earned media for jersey patches where earned media value equaled $2,592,513.73, according to BlinkFire Analytics.

So what supplies the value surrounding sponsored jersey patches? The value comes directly from digital marketing across various media platforms, where social media takes the lead.

When analyzing sponsorship value for the Golden State Warriors across their social media channels, Blinkfire reported that Rakuten earned media value totaling $1,030,811.25 during the first two weeks of the 2017-2018 NBA season where they also made up 52% of the Warriors sponsorship value.

I know you are saying "enough with the big numbers. What does all of this mean"? Well, the significant value for NBA jersey sponsor patches is in the increased brand value for the sponsors and of course the increase in revenue for NBA teams and players.

Think of how many times you have seen the new NBA Nike jerseys with the sponsor patches. Now, think of how many times you or others may have researched or inquired about the sponsor and why they chose to sponsor a particular team. Also, think about how many people may have liked, commented, or followed the jersey patch sponsors just because of their association with a specific NBA team. That creates an increase in brand awareness and recognition for the sponsors.

With the rise of digital media consumption and the forward-thinking progress of the NBA, becoming a jersey patch sponsor of the NBA is a win-win for any company that takes advantage of this three-year patch deal.

Sponsored jersey patches not only bring in money for the NBA and recognition for the sponsors - it adds another layer of storytelling between brands and sports teams. The majority of brands that have sponsored patches have a lasting history in the cities of the NBA teams they are sponsoring, and some have been sponsors of the respective teams for years (i.e., Goodyear and the Cleveland Cavaliers or Infor and the Brooklyn Nets).

Coupled with the additional revenue and brand awareness, adding sponsored patches to jerseys puts the NBA in a global space that the NFL, MLB, and NHL are not in. When you watch global games, you see sponsors on jerseys. With its growing global presence, the addition of sponsored jersey patches solidifies the NBA as a global game. In return, more value for the NBA and its sponsors on a much larger (global) scale.

December 13, 2017

NBA G League Games to Stream Live on Twitch

December 13, 2017/ Asia McMillan

– Up to Six Weekly Games Featuring Fan Commentary and Cutting-Edge Interactive Stats –

NEW YORK, NY – NBA G League games will stream live on Twitch, the world’s leading social video service and community for gamers with 15 million daily active users, beginning Dec. 15. This will represent the first time a major sports league has tapped into several technological innovations unique to Twitch.

During the 2017-18 regular season, basketball fans can expect up to six NBA G League games to stream live on Twitch each week at twitch.tv/nbagleague. After each live broadcast, these games will be available on demand.

The partnership expands NBA G League game distribution and aims to ambitiously innovate the digital presentation of basketball. In addition to the main broadcast, this partnership will feature co-streaming with select Twitch personalities and basketball fans. Co-streaming allows a creator to share another channel’s video feed, but with their own commentary and community, resulting in a more personalized, social experience that includes the ability for viewers to chat with commentators during the game. At launch, GoldGlove and more than a dozen other top personalities on Twitch will take part in the co-streaming initiative.

Additionally, this partnership will introduce interactive functionality for Twitch viewers in the form of a channel overlay that provides easy access to a wide range of stats and the ability to accrue loyalty points.

To enhance the viewing experience, Twitch is adding interactive features with the NBA G League Extension. This is a channel overlay created using Twitch Extensions, which are a new set of tools that allow developers to help creators customize their channel pages with interactive experiences. The NBA G League Extension provides the following features for Twitch viewers which will update and evolve over time:

Stats: Viewers can click on a team’s name or logo next to the scoreboard to view player, team, game, and season stats. There will also be a ticker featuring league stats related to other games from around the league.

Loyalty Display: Logged in viewers will be rewarded with loyalty points for passive and active behaviors and interactions with the stream. Viewers can compete to unlock achievements, climb season long leaderboards, and more to eventually earn prizes.

“Our deal with Twitch will be groundbreaking,” said NBA G League President Malcolm Turner. “By leveraging fan commentary, new technology and a passionate community, Twitch elevates video in a unique, engaging way that resonates with young viewers. We look forward to collaborating with their team to create something truly special for basketball fans.”

“From day one, the NBA team got what Twitch is all about. We aren’t a traditional sports experience on TV; we are much more,” said Michael Aragon, Senior Vice President of Content, Twitch. “From our broadcasters to our engaged community to our interactive product that brings everyone together, collaborating with their team is going to bring a unique experience to basketball fans worldwide. We are thrilled to be working with the NBA G League and look forward to seeing the impact of social video on mainstream sports.”

As a research and development arm of the NBA, the NBA G League tests rules, technological innovations and equipment in an effort to elevate the game. This season, the league played with four-person referee crews during the month of November, while testing rules such as the innovative Coach’s Challenge and a two-minute overtime period. During the league’s 17-year history, it has experimented with the international goaltending rule, away-from-the-play fouls and in-game flopping penalties, among other rules.

About the NBA G League

The NBA’s official minor league, the NBA G League prepares players, coaches, officials, trainers and front-office staff for the NBA while acting as the league’s research and development laboratory. Featuring 26 teams with direct affiliations with NBA franchises for the 2017-18 season, the league offers elite professional basketball at an affordable price in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. An all-time-high 44 percent of all NBA players at the end of the 2016-17 season boasted NBA G League experience. In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA Cares programs. NBA G League games are available on ESPN’s family of networks and NBA TV.

About Twitch

Twitch is the world’s leading social video service and community for gamers. Each day, millions of community members gather to watch, talk, and chat about shared interests. Twitch’s video service is the backbone of both live and on-demand distribution for all types of content, including the entire video game ecosystem, the creative arts, vlogging (IRL), and more. Twitch also runs TwitchCon, an annual convention for celebrating the Twitch community. For more information about Twitch, visit ourPress Center, Twitter feed (#Twitch), and Blog.

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